The Truckers Lair

Since my last post I’ve driven through two snow storms, one between Valemount and Blue River and the other between Fort Nelson and Wonowon.   The one in Valemount wasn’t that bad however two truckers seemed to be afraid to drive very fast on the compact snow and were puttin along in first gear and wouldn’t you know it a convoy formed of angry truck drivers.  The funny thing is these two had heavy loads on an traction shouldn’t have been an issue with that kind of weight.  One trucker finally got frustrated and pulled out and passed then he got on the big radio and let the rest of us know when there was on coming traffic so we all could get by.  Funny feeling driving by a line of trucks in the wrong lane with visibility near 50 feet and relying on someone on the radio to keep you from hitting head on with another vehicle, but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. 

The other snow storm was after delivering a load to the mines north of Watson Lake, Yukon and spending some time with Dan.  I was just leaving Fort Nelson after fueling up and didn’t like the look of the sky a head of me but had to get loaded the next day in the Peace River region.  After about two hours of driving in white out conditions with an empty trailer I’d had enough and pulled over at Bucking Horse River to wait it out.  The next morning it was still snowing but not as heavy and seeing how it was daylight, I chained up and drove to Wonowon before I could take off my chains.  That’s a long way to travel on a set of chains and I was worried for my rear diffs but they held up.  Finally got to the Peace River area and loaded some lumber to haul back to Richmond.  Funny how one of the truckers was talking on how the Valemount storm should be the last blast of winter.  Yeah right.   Bye for now.

Well since my last post I was hoping things were getting better with loads.  But alas I’ve now had two trips in the last two weeks without a back haul.  Last week I figured I’d just head home empty and get another load of pipe and be on my way to set up a two rounder week this week.  But instead I got a load of nails and barbed wire to drop in Grande Prairie and then off to Lloydminster.  Now I’m sitting in Edmonton waiting for a back haul.  Looks like I’ll be here overnight arrggh! So much for a second trip this week.  I hope this turns around soon so I can get back to making good money again.  I may have another load going up past Watson Lake, Yukon again I won’t know until tomorrow.  Might see you again there Dan ole buddy.

I got to watch the hockey game between the USA and Canada at the Greendale truck stop and it was a blast.  There were about five truckers sitting in the small room watching and going crazy.  When the US tied it up with seconds to go, you could have heard a pin drop.  Then when we won it in overtime, I could barely hear for the noise.  Best time I’ve had at a truck stop to date for sure.

Nothing exciting to talk about lately as all I’ve been hauling is pipe to Camrose, Alberta and crushed cars back to Richmond.  The crushed cars are something I don’t like doing but that is all that the company I’m working for is able to find for a back haul right now.  I have to tarp the pipe until the end of March which is a pain and hard on my $2500 tarps but that is why I had them made up.  Looks like I’ll be doing it for a while longer.  I have included some photos.  My truck is running good but there are a few small things to take care of like a new exhaust system, leaf spring pins, and some wiring issues.  Looks like I will get to watch the hockey game between USA and Canada tomorrow at the truck stop in Greendale, BC.  Bye for now.

Loaded an overhead crane (see photo) in Agassiz and delivered to Calgary.  From there I loaded a load of steel joists (see photo) and took off for Whitehorse, Yukon.  What a beautiful drive when the weather is nice which it was.  The road from Fort Nelson to Watson Lake was compact snow and icy in a few places but the drive went off without a hitch.  Got to spend a few hours visiting with Dan in Watson Lake before heading for Whitehorse.  Took lots of photos but not all will be posted here because of space.  After unloading in Whitehorse, I headed back towards Watson Lake to take highway 37 to Kitwanga, BC and then on to Prince George to load crushed cars.  The highway was in bad shape with more frost heaves than in Alberta.  There were cariboo all over the place for the first 30-50 km.  When I got to Dease Lake it started snowing and snowed all the way to Kitwanga.  At the Meziadin Junction it was very icy and I slid past the turn and had to back up.  I think next time I will stay on the highway to Fort Nelson and down that way as the drive will be better.  Yes Dan, I know you told me so.  The drive from Kitwanga to Prince George was slippery in spots and a Canadian Tire truck spun out on a corner and blocked most of the highway (see photo) but I was able to get around him before the road got blocked.  Kind of ironic that it says “Mastercraft” on the side of the trailer.  I’d have to say that he wasn’t a master of his craft today.  After loading in Prince George, I headed for Richmond to deliver my load on Monday morning.  Bye for now. 

Hauled a load of stainless steel drill pipe and an oxygen tank to Calgary for Monday delivery.  Along the way I was held up for about 12 hours because of a head on accident (see pics) between two big rigs just before the first snow shed in Rogers Pass.  I decided to stay in Sicamous to avoid the Indy 5oo that occurs after every road closure.  The accident was caused by a young drivers decision to travel too fast for road conditions when he crossed the center line and hit another truck head on.  Radio chatter was saying that he was driving eratically and passing when he shouldn’t.  Of course it was during a snow storm that this all took place.  He was only 29 years old and now he is dead.  The sad part is that he also killed his partner (30 years old) who was sleeping in the bunk and didn’t know what hit him.  Also two other trucks and drivers are traumatized and out of their livlihoods for now because of some bad choices.  The scarey part is this could happen to any one of us at any time without warning.  Hazzards of the job I guess, but shouldn’t happen. 

After unloading the tank in Calgary, I headed to Nisku to unload the drill pipe.  Then I headed to Edson to load some crushed cars and back to the lower mainland shortly thereafter.  Got into a bit of a beef with the forklift operator when he expected me to climb on top of the cars to wrap the plastic mesh required to haul the cars.  Little too dangerous for an old dog like me.  Bye for now.

Loaded a transformer on the kick and headed for Maple Ridge to load a 2000 T800 Kenworth Dump Truck. I dropped the transformer off in Edmonton and then headed for Sundre, AB to unload the dump truck. I then headed for Calgary to load an empty 40′ container to deliver back in Edmonton. After unloading the container and having a bit of a run in with the fork lift operator, I loaded a compressor, gear box and wooden crate along with another empty container and headed for the lower mainland. It seems like the industry has changed to the point where you are doing way more travelling just to make a buck when in fact you’re burning twice as much fuel so I’m not sure I’m making much. Going through Kamloops I ran into some heavy snowfall and decided to take the canyon, which turned out to be an easy drive. Unloading in North Vancouver this morning turned out to be an adventure as the chemical plant I was delivering to was starting their first day of tighter security due to the olympics. Everyone I had contact with was having a bad day and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. They were checking the lunch boxes of staff who had worked there for over thirty years and they were complaining loudly. Then I unloaded the container and here I sit waiting for a load out of here. Figures, I get here quick to try and get another load so I can possibly get two this week and I have to sit. That will screw me for two this week. Bye for now.

Loaded some pipe in Delta for delivery in Calgary.  The drive was great but when I got to the rest area in Jumping Pound to reset my log book I forgot to shut off my trailer lights when I shut off the motor to save fuel.  Well needless to say the next morning I couldn’t start my truck and had to pay a towing company 150 bucks for a boost.  Delivered my load on Monday morning and headed down to Cowlay, AB to load some crushed metal bales for delivery in Richmond.  Decided to take highway three back instead of going back to Calgary and taking highway one.  Big mistake as highway three is nothing but steady climbs and lots of winding curves.  Took me over an hour to get over Kootenay Pass because of compact snow and ice.  Burned as much fuel as I would have going from Van to Golden.  Didn’t make much money this trip.  Bye for now.

Took a steel bridge deck to a golf course in Calgary.  Along the way I came across an accident about two km west of Rogers Pass where a big rig jackknifed and slammed into a concrete no-post and burst into flames.  The driver was walking around with his cell phone in his ear so I guess he was alright.  There were a couple of cars stopped to help.  When I drove through the cab was burning pretty good and by the time I got to the bottom of the pass I heard on the radio that the fuel tanks caught fire and the van was just starting to burn.  Sorry no photos because I didn’t want to risk it.  Delivered my load and picked up a container for delivery to Edmonton.  From there I loaded some crushed cars in Spruce Grove for delivery to Richmond.  Bye for now.

Delivered the container this morning and had to use two pickers as one couldn’t lift it. See the pics below.  I also added another pic of Mt. Robson, sorry I just can’t resist shooting that rock when the sun hits it just right.  On my way to Dawson Creek, BC I almost hit two moose who thought they’d drag race me in the ditch and then decided to try the other side at which time I had slowed down to about 30 km so I was able to stop.  Too fast to take a pic however.  Right now I’m sitting in Dawson Creek waiting to get loaded tomorrow and the temp is minus 41 degrees celcius.  When I first arrived and went to fuel up I turned too sharp and severed my air line to the trailer.  My hands almost froze off when I made the repairs.  I think I’ll be buying the softer rubber lines instead of the hard plastic I have now when I get back to the land of the living. Bye for now.

After sitting in Fort McMurray for 36 hours I drove to Edmonton and picked up a load of 60′ rebar to deliver to Surrey, BC.  After delivery on Thursday I loaded up a 40′ container on Friday for Monday delivery.  I left this morning and I am now sitting in Whitecourt Alberta where it is minus 32 degrees celcius.  Drove my 13 hours so I have to wait until morning to drive the rest of the way to Wabasca which is another 3 or 4 hours north east.  I almost smoked a few big horn sheep in Jasper Park that were licking the salt off the middle of the road and I didn’t see them until the last minute.  Of course they’re so dumb they just stood there and looked at me sliding towards them.  I managed to drive through a hole in the herd without hitting any of them.  Good thing too because if you get caught hitting one of them you are liable for the replacement cost of the sheep.  I hear it’s very expensive.  Good thing I was only doing the speed limit other wise I may be fixing my truck and purchasing a sheep…Yikes… Talk to you later.